Children Participate in STEM Activities At Peterson Festival

Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. August 28, 2014 – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math projects brought hundreds of kids to Peterson Air and Space Museum for STEM Rocks! on August 23. Nearly 30 booths offered a wide variety of hands-on STEM activities, such as piloting a robot and launching homemade rockets.

Events included demonstrations by the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot, rocket launches by the Civil Air Patrol, Angry Nerds Catapult and a rocket thruster demonstration by the U.S. Air Force Academy STEM Outreach Club.

“The mission of the USAFA STEM Outreach Club is to inspire and excite students, parents and educators about STEM fields,” said Cadet 1st Class Winston Sanks.

Capt. Jason Christopher, USAFA STEM Outreach Club office in charge, said events like this are very important for the Colorado Springs community.

“Students have different career options, and it’s important for us to help excite them about the possibilities of STEM,” he said. “We don’t want them getting discouraged about the career field early on, there are a lot of interesting things you can do with STEM.”

In addition to the rocket thruster, the USAFA STEM Outreach Club brought a smaller version of the EOD robot, called PACBOT 4, for children to control.

This is the third year Peterson has hosted STEM Rocks! with the goal of encouraging kids to find the fun in STEM and consider pursuing careers in the field.